Netgear unveils world’s first 802.11ac, 1.3 Gbps WiFi router

Wireless networking is a big thing for networks and there’s never enough speed. The last major upgrade to the industry was the launch of 802.11n routers which offered between 150Mbps and 300Mbps transfer speeds. The next big jump is the 802.11ac standard. Netgear has announced the introduction of what is possibly the world’s fastest mainstream Wi-Fi router. It’s called the Netgear R6300 and its based on the IEEE 802.11ac wireless networking standard. Of course, the router will be compatible with all previous standards - 802.11/a/b/g/n as well. The router operates at a ridiculous 1300Mbps on the 5GHz frequency range and that speed drops to 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency range.

Gigabit speeds possible wirelessly!

Netgar believes that the product should allow users to easily stream full high definition content from one device to another. There should also be benefits seen as more mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets start entering the market, conforming to the new 802.11ac standard. Netgear says that those devices will be able to operate at higher speeds while consuming roughly the same amount of battery as current 802.11n devices. There are a few other unique features added to this device. The Netgear Genie app allows users to access their home networks using their smartphones and tablets. The Android app is available on the Google Play store and on Netgear’s site. Users can also scan media on their network and channel it to DLNA capable devices.

The device also has two USB ports which can be used to store data on external storage devices and also for connecting printers. Netgear tied up with Broadcom to provide the 5G 802.11ac chips that help the R6300 achieve its speeds. There’s no official announcement of when the product would be launched in India, although the product is said to launch in international markets at a price of $199.99 (approximately Rs. 10,500). With Netgear having launched such a device, it’s only a matter of time before the other major router brands release their products. However, you’ll need a 802.11ac compliant device to really take advantage of the speeds.